Security At A Large Fast Food Chain Unveiled A New Touch Scr

Securitya Large Fast Food Chain Unveiled A New Touch Screen Register

Analyze the new system and determine the design issues with this new system. Describe how you would correct the design issues with the system to make the restaurant managers happy. Create a design plan that: 1. Lists and explains the tasks associated with improving this interface. 2. Contains at least six (6) tasks. 3. Includes realistic time estimates for each task to be completed. 4. Analyzes the development of the system in your plan. 5. Analyzes the testing of the system in your plan. 6. Analyzes the implementation of the system in your plan. Examine how this system balanced security and usability, and explain the challenges of incorporating system security and system usability into a design. Suggest changes that could be made to the security of this system to still meet security objectives but make the system more usable. Use Microsoft Visio or an open source alternative, Dia, to create a graphical representation of your proposed interface. Note: The graphically depicted solution is not included in the required page length. Use at least three (3) quality resources in this assignment. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: · Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. · Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. · Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or one of their equivalents such as Open Project, Dia, and OpenOffice. The completed diagrams/charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.

Paper For Above instruction

The deployment of a new touch screen register system in a large fast food chain presents several critical design and usability challenges that need thorough analysis and rectification. While the system's intention was to streamline order processing and improve security, several flaws have become evident, impacting operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. This paper dissects the existing system's issues, proposes comprehensive solutions, outlines a detailed task-oriented improvement plan, and discusses the balance between security and usability in system design.

Analysis of the System and Identified Design Issues

The current system incorporates multiple security measures—user ID and password authentication, lockout after failed login attempts, auto-lock after inactivity, and restricted unlocking rights. Despite these, practical issues have emerged. A predominant concern is the reliance on passwords that cashiers often forget, leading to frequent lockouts and administrative intervention, which impedes workflow. Additionally, the limited password entry interface, with a basic button layout, increases the likelihood of input errors, especially under pressure, causing frustration. The lockout mechanism, although intended to prevent unauthorized access, is overly stringent, resulting in system downtime when cashiers forget to log out or when a shift ends unexpectedly. Moreover, the physical degradation of the touch screens due to grease buildup diminishes responsiveness, prolonging transaction times.

Proposed Corrections to the System Design

To enhance usability while maintaining security, several modifications are necessary:

  • Implement User-Friendly Authentication Methods: Replace traditional password entry with biometric authentication options such as fingerprint scanners or facial recognition, reducing login difficulties.
  • Introduce Role-Based Access with Temporary Credentials: Enable cashiers to use temporary or one-time access codes for quick login during break periods, minimizing the need for manager intervention.
  • Enhance Auto-Lock and Idle Timeout Policies: Extend the inactivity timeout from three to five or six minutes, and incorporate a prompt to lock explicitly via a dedicated button, giving users control.
  • Improve Touch Screen Maintenance and Design: Design the interface with anti-grease coatings and include regular maintenance schedules to preserve responsiveness.
  • Develop a Logout Reminder System: Install software prompts reminding cashiers to log out at shift end, reducing unauthorized lingering sessions.
  • Revise Button Layout and Interface Simplicity: Redesign the login interface to minimize input errors, possibly with larger buttons, clearer labels, and touch sensitivity adjustments.

Design Plan and Task Breakdown

The implementation of these improvements involves a structured development process encompassing task delineation, timeline estimation, system development, testing, and deployment.

1. User Interface Redesign

This task involves creating a streamlined, touch-friendly interface with larger buttons, simplified layout, and anti-grease resistant coatings. Estimated duration: 3 weeks. Development involves collaborating with UI/UX designers, procuring materials for hardware modifications, and designing new GUI mockups.

2. Integration of Biometric Authentication

Implement biometric modules and integrate them into the existing system. Estimated duration: 4 weeks. Development includes sourcing hardware, integrating software APIs, and ensuring data security compliance.

3. Development of Role-Based Access and Temporary Credentials

Create a system allowing administrators to assign temporary login credentials or enable quick login options for cashiers during breaks. Estimated duration: 2 weeks. Development involves software modifications for credential management and user account control.

4. Maintenance and Mechanical Improvements to Touch Screens

Improve screen durability through hardware modifications and schedule regular cleaning routines. Estimated duration: 2 weeks. This includes procurement of anti-grease coatings and establishing routine maintenance protocols.

5. Installation of Prompt and Reminder Systems

Deploy software tools that remind cashiers to log out and report inactivity, potentially through on-screen prompts and audible alerts. Estimated duration: 1 week. Development encompasses coding prompts and testing user response effectiveness.

6. System Testing and Quality Assurance

Conduct comprehensive testing of all new features and interface modifications, using both automated and manual testing procedures. Estimated duration: 3 weeks. Testing ensures functionality, security, and user acceptance.

Each task interlocks to develop a cohesive, user-centric, secure system that addresses previous shortcomings while enhancing operational efficiency.

Development, Testing, and Implementation Analysis

The development phase emphasizes collaborative design and system integration, ensuring compatibility with existing POS hardware and security protocols. During testing, scenario-based simulations assess real-world performance, focusing on login times, response accuracy, and robustness against misuse. Implementation involves phased deployment, beginning with pilot stores to gather feedback and make iterative adjustments. Training programs should accompany deployment to familiarize staff with new features, especially biometric authentication and logout reminders. This phased approach minimizes operational disruption and facilitates user adaptation.

Balancing Security and Usability

This system's initial design prioritized security—multipronged authentication, lockouts, and restricted access—yet inadvertently hampered usability, leading to procedural delays and increased frustration. Achieving an effective balance involves implementing user-friendly security features like biometric logins, which maintain security integrity while simplifying access. However, challenges arise in ensuring biometric data privacy and preventing biometric fraud. Moreover, overly complex lockout policies, while secure, restrict operational fluidity. Adjusting these policies by incorporating multiple authentication factors and explicit lock controls can enhance both security and usability. The core challenge is designing security measures that do not deter efficient operations or compromise user experience.

Suggested Security Enhancements for Better Usability

Revising security protocols to incorporate biometric authentication reduces reliance on memorized passwords, alleviating login difficulties. Adding role-based temporary access, during specific periods like breaks or shift changes, streamlines user transition while maintaining control. Implementing automatic logout after inactivity, with a user-initiated lock button, offers flexible security without impeding quick reaccess. Regular maintenance of touch screens ensures responsiveness, minimizing operational delays caused by hardware issues. Employing multi-factor authentication with biometric verification, combined with secure password policies, balances security robustness with ease of access. These steps collectively create a system that is both secure and user-friendly, thereby aligning operational needs with security standards.

Graphical Representation of Proposed Interface

While not embedded here, a graphical interface designed using Visio or Dia would include clear login prompts with biometric options, role-based access buttons, large touch-friendly icons for common actions, and maintenance alerts. An intuitive layout would feature minimal steps for login/logout, visual cues for lock status, and prompts for system maintenance or cleaning schedules. This visual design aims to enhance the operational experience, reducing errors and improving response times, contributing to overall efficiency.

Conclusion

The initial security-focused design of the touchscreen register system, while well-intentioned, created usability bottlenecks that affected daily operations. The proposed improvements—biometric authentication, role-based access, enhanced maintenance, and user-centric interface redesign—address these concerns effectively. Systematic development, rigorous testing, and phased implementation will ensure a smooth transition, balancing security with usability. Ultimately, creating an adaptable, secure POS interface improves employee satisfaction, reduces operational delays, and sustains security integrity, fostering a more efficient retail environment.

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